Gillingham clinched victory over Dartford on Tuesday night at Princes Park.

Goals from Gabriel Zakuani and Josh Parker put the Gills 2-0 up at the break.

Former Gills youngster Tom Murphy halved the deficit midway through the second half.

Both teams included a number of trialists in their line-ups, with the Darts starting last season’s Southern Counties East hot-shot Warren Mfula upfront.

National South side Dartford had drawn with Championship newcomers Millwall at the weekend while the Gills beat Faversham 1-0 in their first outing. Goalscorer that day, Tom Eaves, sat this match out.

The Gills didn’t take long to take the lead with Zakuani – starting the match wearing the captain’s armband - heading home from close range off a Max Ehmer cross with four minutes gone.

Zakuani was helping to keep the Dartford front-two quiet, with the hosts restricted to shots from distance. Max Ehmer was helping mop up the danger.

Twice in the opening half Darts summer signing Lyle Della-Verde tried his luck, while on the opposite flank Ryan Hayes saw his dipping effort tipped over.

Gillingham went two-up just after the half hour mark when good work from Bradley Garmston down the left resulted in a cross for Parker and he guided the ball home low from 18 yards.

The visitors stuck with the same XI for the start of the second half and Garmston put in two great crosses that the Gills were unable to capitalise from.

With an hour gone the Gills changed their entire team, sticking to their 3-5-2 formation for the final 30 minutes.

Greg Cundle had an early sight at goal but chose to find a team-mate instead of trying his luck with the defence backing off. At the other end Holy got down well to deny former Gills man Andy Pugh, as he found a rare opening.

Another of Dartford’s trialists Romaric Logan came close to getting on the scoresheet for the hosts but Stuart Nelson spread himself well to make the save. Moments later the Darts did get a goal, with Murphy firing home on 74 minutes.

Cundle came close three more times for the Gills, with more good work down both flanks to create the chances.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah (Ufuah 76mins), Bonner (Gardner 46mins), Vint, Noble (Habte 76mins), Hayes (Murphy 46mins), Bradbrook (Fulton 76mins), Mfula (Logan 46mins), Pugh (Cue 65mins), Della-Verde (Sho-Silva 46mins). Sub not used: Coxall.

Gillingham: Holy (Nelson 60mins), O’Mara (O’Neill 60mins), Zakuani (Tucker 60mins), Ehmer (Trialist 60mins), Wagstaff (List 60mins), Garmston (Ogilvie 60mins), Chapman (Hessenthaler 60mins), Wright (Byrne 60mins), Trialist (Martin 60mins), Parker (Wilkinson 60mins), Trialist (Cundle 60mins). Subs: Hadler, Mbo, Stevenson, Oldaker, Simpson.

Attendance: 710